September 2, 2004: Headlines: COS - Ivory Coast: Writing - Ivory Coast: iBerkshires: Sarah Erdman's book "Nine Hills to Nambonkaha, Two Years in the Heart of an African Village," was chosen as the summer reading project for new Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students

NORTH ADAMS — The book "Nine Hills to Nambonkaha, Two Years in the Heart of an African Village," was chosen as the summer reading project for new Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students.

The author, Sarah Erdman, will speak to the students during their first-days program as part of the opening of the MCLA academic year. The program on Monday, Sept. 6, will begin at 1 p.m. in the Church Street Center and is free and open to the community.

Erdman's book is a first-person account of her two years in the Peace Corps. The daughter of two U.S. diplomats, she grew up in seven countries, including Portugal, Israel, Yugoslavia and Cyprus. After graduating from Middlebury College, she volunteered for the Peace Corps and was stationed in the Ivory Coast, a former French colony in western Africa. Specifically, she was assigned to improve the health practices of the residents of Nambonkaha.

The book was selected for Border's "Original Voices," Book Sense Picks and Barnes & Noble's "Discover Great New Writers" program. It also won a New York Times Editor's Choice Award for travel literature. Currently Erdman is working as a placement officer for Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Jordan at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C.

In addition to Erdman's presentation, the MCLA program will include a performance by Tony Vacca and his group, "World Rhythms," which uses the power of music to illustrate and build common ground. Combining the elements of traditional African and Afro-Cuban rhythms with the American-born tradition of innovation, the ensemble creates an earthy fusion of jazz and world music.

Following the program, Erdman will sign copies of her book in the Church Street Center Social Hall. Information: 662-5242.

When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

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Story Source: iBerkshires

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ivory Coast; Writing - Ivory Coast

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